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United States Patent |
5,592,702
|
Gillebaard, Jr.
|
January 14, 1997
|
Variable size above-ground swimming pool
Abstract
A variable size, portable above-the-ground swimming pool comprising a frame
portion having a flexible liner portion attached thereto. The frame
portion includes a plurality of first wall members which are of a first
length. Attached to and extending between the top ends of the first wall
members are a plurality of rim members. The liner portion includes an
upper rim which defines a plurality of horizontally oriented rim sleeves
sized to slidably receive respective ones of the rim members. Extending
downwardly from the upper rim is a sidewall which defines inner and outer
surfaces. Disposed on the outer surface of the sidewall are a plurality of
vertically oriented wall sleeves which are sized to slidably receive
respective ones of the first wall members, while attached to the sidewall
is a floor. The sidewall is of a first height, and is selectively
collapsible to a second height which is less than the first height.
Additionally, the first wall members are selectively replaceable with a
plurality of second wall members which are of a second length less than
the first length for purposes of reducing the size of the pool when the
sidewall is collapsed to the second height.
Inventors:
|
Gillebaard, Jr.; Hendrik C. (1015 Calle Amanecer, San Clemente, CA 92673)
|
Appl. No.:
|
433256 |
Filed:
|
April 28, 1995 |
Current U.S. Class: |
4/506; 4/585 |
Intern'l Class: |
E04H 004/00; A47K 003/06 |
Field of Search: |
4/506,585
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
1664887 | Apr., 1928 | Kirkham et al. | 4/506.
|
2378159 | Jun., 1945 | Royer | 220/9.
|
3191190 | Jun., 1965 | Lowry | 4/585.
|
3225362 | Dec., 1965 | Barrera | 4/506.
|
3443263 | May., 1969 | Minasy | 52/245.
|
3660853 | May., 1972 | Ducrocq et al. | 4/506.
|
4356933 | Nov., 1982 | Connolly | 220/401.
|
4597113 | Jul., 1986 | Eymard | 4/488.
|
4890343 | Jan., 1990 | Schlags | 4/585.
|
4989751 | Feb., 1991 | Gillett | 220/565.
|
5083327 | Jan., 1992 | Gillebaard | 4/506.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
1123409 | Sep., 1956 | FR | 4/506.
|
478106 | Aug., 1975 | SU | 4/506.
|
0001729 | Oct., 1876 | GB | 4/585.
|
0767621 | Feb., 1957 | GB | 4/506.
|
1037127 | Jul., 1966 | GB | 4/506.
|
Primary Examiner: Fetsuga; Robert M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Stetina Brunda & Buyan
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A variable size, portable above-the-ground swimming pool, comprising:
a frame portion including:
a plurality of wall members having top and bottom ends; and
a plurality of rim members attached to and extending between the top ends
of the wall members;
a flexible liner portion including:
an upper rim defining a plurality of horizontally oriented rim sleeves
sized to slidably receive respective ones of the rim members;
a sidewall extending downwardly from the upper rim and defining an inner,
water contacting surface and an outer surface, said sidewall being of a
first height and selectively collapsible to a second height which is less
than the first height;
a plurality of vertically oriented wall sleeves disposed on the outer
surface of the sidewall and sized to slidably receive respective ones of
the wall members;
a plurality of inner loop members disposed on the inner surface of the
sidewall in vertically oriented pairs, the inner loop members of each pair
being separated from each other by a first distance, with the collapse of
the sidewall to the second height reducing the distance separating the
inner loop members of each pair to a second distance which is less than
the first distance, said sidewall being maintained in the collapsed
configuration by the connection of the inner loop members of each pair to
each other; and
a floor attached to said sidewall.
2. A variable size, portable above-the-ground swimming pool, comprising:
a frame portion including:
a plurality of wall members having top and bottom ends; and
a plurality of rim members attached to and extending between the top ends
of the wall members;
a flexible liner portion including:
an upper rim defining a plurality of horizontally oriented rim sleeves
sized to slidably receive respective ones of the rim members;
a sidewall extending downwardly from the upper rim and defining an inner,
water contacting surface and an outer surface, said sidewall being of a
first height and selectively collapsible to a second height which is less
than the first height;
a plurality of vertically oriented wall sleeves disposed on the outer
surface of the sidewall and sized to slidably receive respective ones of
the first wall members;
a plurality of outer loop members disposed on respective ones of said wall
sleeves in spaced relation to each other; and
a floor attached to said sidewall;
a belt extending between said outer loop members about the outer surface of
the sidewall to provide structural support to the frame portion, said
plurality of outer loop members including a first pair on each wall sleeve
being used to facilitate the attachment of said belt to said liner portion
when the sidewall is at the first height, and a second pair on each wall
sleeve being used to facilitate the attachment of said belt to said liner
portion when the sidewall is collapsed to the second height.
3. A variable size, portable above-the-ground swimming pool, comprising:
a frame portion including:
a plurality of first wall members having top and bottom ends, said first
wall members being of a first length; and
a plurality of rim members attached to and extending between the top ends
of the first wall members;
a flexible liner portion including:
an upper rim defining a plurality of horizontally oriented rim sleeves
sized to slidably receive respective ones of the rim members;
a sidewall extending downwardly from the upper rim and defining an inner,
water contacting surface and an outer surface, said sidewall being of a
first height and selectively collapsible to a second height which is less
than the first height;
a plurality of vertically oriented wall sleeves disposed on the outer
surface of the sidewall and sized to slidably receive respective ones of
the first wall members;
a plurality of inner loop members disposed on the inner surface of the
sidewall in vertically oriented pairs, the inner loop members of each pair
being separated from each other by a first distance, with the collapse of
the sidewall to the second height reducing the distance separating the
inner loop members of each pair to a second distance which is less than
the first distance, said sidewall being maintained in the collapsed
configuration by the connection of the inner loop members of each pair to
each other; and
a floor attached to said sidewall;
a plurality of second wall members of a second length which is less than
the first length, said first wall members being selectively replaceable
with the second wall members when the sidewall is collapsed to the second
height for purposes of reducing the size of the pool.
4. The pool of claim 3 wherein said liner portion further includes a lower
rim defining a plurality of horizontally oriented cord sleeves, and said
pool further includes a cord extending through said cord sleeves about the
outer surface of the sidewall adjacent the floor.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to above-ground swimming pools and
more particularly to portable swimming pools and those of variable size,
i.e., the height of the wall of the swimming pool is adjustable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Above-the-ground swimming pools currently available, that claim to be
capable of assembly and disassembly, are commonly comprised of sheet metal
panels. Alternatively, portable swimming pool structures comprised of an
air-filled pontoon are available. Although such products have proven
generally suitable for their intended purposes, they possess inherent
deficiencies which detract from their overall effectiveness. Sheet metal
panels are heavy to move around, time consuming to assemble and subject to
corrosion. Air filled pontoons are subject to rupture and leakage.
In addition, even if a small pool lasts a long time and is reusable season
after season, children grow up and consequently the pool tends to outlive
its usefulness. If parents buy a larger pool to start with, there is a
greater danger of drowning since the pool may still contain water to a
greater depth. The higher sidewalls of a larger pool could also prevent a
smaller child from egressing from the pool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the shortcomings of the prior art it is the object of this
invention to provide a portable above-the-ground swimming pool that is of
variable size, i.e., the height of the sidewall is adjustable dependent
upon the ages of the children using the pool.
The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates the above
mentioned deficiencies associated with the prior art. Applicant
incorporates by reference the disclosure from his prior invention
Gillebaard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,327 (issued Jan. 28, 1992). In that
invention Applicant teaches a truly portable above-the-ground swimming
pool. Here Applicant adds the advantage of variable-size sidewalls. The
invention includes a frame portion that is readily assembled and
disassembled, and of varying height. The invention also includes a liner
portion that can be partially folded in on itself. A variable size pool is
the result.
Features of the present invention include a frame portion including rim
members and wall members interconnected together. Included among the wall
members are multiple sets of varying lengths. The flexible liner portion
includes an upper rim, a sidewall, a floor, and various sleeves in the
sidewall that receive the frame portions. A preferred embodiment includes
a belt that goes around the outside of the sidewall for structural
support. The preferred embodiment further includes inner loops located on
the inner side of the sidewalls, which connect together to capture excess
liner material when the smaller-sized pool is set up. The preferred
embodiment also includes multiple sets of outer loops located on the
outside surface of the sidewalls, to receive at varying levels the belt
that goes around the perimeter of the sidewalls, and outer straps connect
the outer loops together and secure the belt.
The advantages of the present invention, namely true portability and the
ability to vary the size of the swimming pool, are provided by the
above-mentioned features. The variable size pool operates as follows. Upon
adjusting the size of the frame of the pool to a lesser height, the liner
is folded in on itself, and the inner loops are connected together to
capture the excess liner material. The belt is relocated to a higher set
of outer loops on the sidewall, and the outer straps connected.
These as well as other advantages of the present invention will be more
apparent from the following description and drawings. It is understood
that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be within
the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention
.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the variable size, portable above-ground
swimming pool of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flexible liner portion of the
invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame portion, with the liner portion
mounted thereon, of the invention;
FIG. 4 iS a perspective view of the frame and liner portions set up for a
smaller sized pool;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view from inside the pool showing the inner loop
members of the liner portion, set up for a larger sized pool; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view from inside the pool showing the liner portion
set up for a smaller sized pool.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The detailed discussion set forth below in connection with the appended
drawings is intended as a description of embodiments of the invention, and
is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention
may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions
and sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in
connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood,
however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be
accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be
encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The variable size, portable above-the-ground swimming pool of the present
invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 which depict a presently preferred
embodiment of the invention. Applicant incorporates by reference the
disclosure from his prior invention, Gillebaard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,327
(issued Jan. 28, 1992). The variable-size pool assembly 70 is generally
comprised of a portable pool assembly 10 which includes a frame portion
12, and a flexible liner portion 14.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the preferred embodiment is described for a
variable size swimming pool having a sixteen-foot diameter. Proportionally
fewer frame members and sleeves would be required for a small swimming
pool, e.g., having a twelve-foot diameter. The frame portion 12 includes a
first set of sixteen wall members 40, each having a top end 41 and a
bottom end 43, and being about four feet in length. A set of sixteen rim
members 36 are used to form the top perimeter of the pool 10 by connecting
together the top ends 41 of the wall members 40. Sixteen joint members 45
may be used to make the structural connections between rim members 36 and
wall members 40. All the members of the frame portion 12 are preferably
constructed from PVC tubing.
The flexible liner portion 14 includes an upper rim 16 which is made up of
sixteen horizontally disposed rim sleeves 18 which are sized to accept the
rim members 36. A sidewall 20 extends down from the upper rim 16, the
sidewall 20 having an inner, water-contacting surface 20band an outer
surface 20a. Attached to the outside surface 20a of the sidewalls 20,
approximately every 20 degrees around the perimeter of the sidewalls 20,
are a pair of wall sleeves 22 and 23. The wall sleeves 22 and 23 are split
into a pair for reasons that will become clear later in this discussion.
The wall sleeves 22 and 23 are sized to receive the wall members 40.
Finally, the flexible liner portion 20, includes a floor portion 32, the
perimeter of the floor portion 32 connected to the sidewall 20. A
reinforcement member (not shown) may be added to strengthen the connection
between the sidewall 20 and the floor portion 32. Attached to each of the
wall sleeves 22 and 23, are a pair of outer loops 76. A large belt 28 is
installed around the perimeter of the pool 10, at about the mid-level of
the wall members 40, to provide additional structural support. The belt 28
is installed between a pair of the outer loop members 76 and it is held in
place by an outer strap 78. The belt 28 is preferably constructed from
tri-ply PVC. The remainder of the flexible liner portion 14 is preferably
constructed of a polyester material with the inner surface 20b coated with
waterproof vinyl.
Now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 the variable size advantage of the invention
may be described in terms of the features which provide the variable size
capability. FIG. 3 shows the variable size pool 70 set up as a larger
sized pool 72. A cord 60 at the lower edge of the sidewall 20, the
interface to the floor portion 32, supports the connection between the
sidewall 20 and the floor portion 32. The sidewall 20 further includes
sixteen horizontally disposed cord sleeves 61 which are sized to accept
the cord 60. The first set of wall members 40', approximately four feet in
length, are installed in the frame portion 12.
FIG. 4 shows the variable sized pool set up as a smaller sized pool 74. A
second set of wall members 40', approximately two feet in length, have
been substituted for the first set of wall members 40. The flexible liner
sidewall 20 has been folded up inside the pool perimeter. The cord 60
remains adjacent the floor portion 32. The belt 28 has been relocated
upward to between the next set of outer loops 76, and is again secured by
the outer strap 78.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show another feature of the preferred embodiment. Attached
around the inner surface 20b of the flexible liner portion 20 are sixteen
pairs of inner loop members 80. The inner loop members 80 are installed
every twenty degrees around the inner surface 20b, at approximately the
same locations that the wall sleeves 22 and 23 are attached to the outside
surface 20a of the flexible liner sidewall 20. FIG. 5 shows the larger
sized pool 72, and the inner loop members 80 are spaced apart and
non-functional.
FIG. 6 shows the smaller sized pool 74. Upon folding of the flexible liner
sidewall 20 in upon itself as depicted in FIG. 4, the inner loop members
80 are now located immediately adjacent to each other. An inner strap 82
is used to connect the inner loop members 80 to each other. The folded
sidewall 20 is captured by the inner loop members 80 tied together by the
inner strap 82, and the excess sidewall 20 is held in place.
It is well understood that the exemplary variable size above-the-ground
swimming pool described herein and shown in the drawings represents only a
present preferred embodiment and an alternative embodiment of the
invention. Indeed, various modifications and additions may be made to such
embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
By way of example only, telescopic wall members 40 could be provided,
having an upper segment and a lower segment of differing diameters, such
that the segments slidably receive each other, and a coupling to lock
their relative position to each other. Thus, these and other modifications
and additions may be obvious to those skilled in the art and may be
implemented to adapt the present invention for use in a variety of
applications.
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